Allergies

McGill Food and Dining does not have allergen-free facilities.

McGill Food and Dining Services is committed to providing more inclusive and safe dining experiences for students with allergies, intolerances, or specific dietary requirements. While efforts are made to reduce risk, it is important to note that none of the dining locations are guaranteed to be allergen-free.

If you live in residence

Students with multiple and/or severe allergies are recommended to consider a residence with kitchen access, such as one of the Quiet Residences (for first year students), Greenbriar Apartments (returning students) or Budget Friendly options at Mac Campus (first year or returning). These residences do not include the mandatory meal plan.

Steps we take to minimize the risk/exposure at the residential dining halls:

• Peanuts are not sourced or used in any recipes in the main dining hall kitchens, nor available in any form at self-serve counters. Seeds including sunflower, pumpkin and sesame are used as alternatives, including wow butter and sunflower-seed butter. Some bakery goods outsourced may be produced in facilities where traces of nuts may exist. These are clearly labelled as such.

• Tree nuts are not sourced or used in recipes in any of the dining halls. While specialty products like almond milk may be available at self-serve stations, they have been outsourced from manufacturing and will be clearly labeled to that effect.
• Food labels are used to identify items which are vegan, vegetarian, made-without-gluten, and dairy-free.
• A made-without-gluten hot meal (including vegetables, starch, and main entree) is made available daily. Please note that despite this, we do not recommend students with celiac disease live in a residence with a mandatory meal plan due to the limited capacity of the food service team to fully accommodate these students.
• A vegan hot meal (including vegetables, starch and main entrée) is made available daily.

Here are some steps you can take:

• Always carry your EpiPen with you, for students at-risk of an anaphylactic reaction.
• Carry medical identification, such as a MedicAlert bracelet.
• Identify your allergen to the chef or dining hall manager, ask questions about ingredients or preparation before you eat.
• Connect with our dietitian before arriving on campus.

Students with food allergies or requiring specific diets due to a medical condition are invited to meet with our registered dietitian in-person during move-in week, or shortly thereafter. This meeting serves to help students identify which food choices will be safest, which recipes or counters require more caution, and if necessary to organize to meet with chefs/dining hall managers so that you know your contact person for any questions about ingredients contained in the food you eat.

For any questions about special dietary needs or to schedule an appointment, please contact our staff dietitian: askadietitian.shhs [at] mcgill.ca

Celiac 

Students with Celiac are encouraged to fill out the accessibility form to request special accommodation to live in one of the Quiet Residences (for first year students) or Greenbriar Apartments (returning students) or Budget Friendly options at Mac Campus (first year or returning), which do not require participation in the mandatory meal plan. This allows students to prepare their own meals and minimize the risk of cross-contamination.  

First year students with Celiac in Quiet Residences will be given priority and (where possible) grouped together to facilitate the sharing of the same common kitchen, this arrangement further reduces the risk of cross-contamination.

Celiac Program at Bishop Mountain Dining Hall

Students with celiac disease who prefer to live in a residence with a mandatory meal plan may be eligible for a special program specifically designed to support dietary needs of celiac students. Participants will be prioritized for rooms in Upper Residence, which provides access to Bishop Mountain Hall—the only dining facility currently equipped for this initiative. 

To participate, students must: 

• Complete the Accessibility Request Form and submit appropriate medical documentation confirming a celiac disease diagnosis. 

• Acknowledge and accept the potential risk of cross-contamination, as the dining hall is not a certified allergen-free facility. 

• Be comfortable with a more limited selection of gluten-free meal options compared to the standard menu. 

• Meet with the Residence Dietitian within the first two weeks of move-in. This meeting, which may also include the Executive Chef depending on availability, is designed to ensure students are fully informed about their meal options feel confident about how to navigate the dining hall safely and effectively. 

• The Celiac Program at Bishop Mountain Hall includes: 

• One hot meal option for lunch and dinner, featuring a lean protein, hot vegetable, and starch, prepared on a separate line and using ingredients specifically free from gluten.  

• A designated food warmer with the meal option for celiac students, where meals are served by a staff member who has been trained in serving celiac students. Although the meal is served by a staff member in order to reduce cross-contamination, the program remains an all-you-care-to-eat format, with no portion limits, allowing students to return for additional servings as needed. 

• Access to a gluten-free toaster, reserved for celiac students 

• Availability of gluten-free bread, cereal, pasta, and dessert upon request. 

• Please note: the variety and availability of gluten-free items may vary depending on demand and may change throughout the academic year.  As this is a new program, we kindly ask for your patience as it is implemented and as improvements are made based on feedback and demand.